Cataclysm - Heroic Zul'Gurub Dungeon and Boss Guide
Jesse Cox from OMFGcata released a nice video of the updated version of Zul'gurub. If you didn't have time to visit the new instance on PTRs, you should probably spend 15 minutes watching it, you will probably end up thinking "hey, the new ZG is better than I thought!".

Patch 4.1: Addon Messages Will Be Filtered
Boring stuff you will probably not understand unless you're an addon developer, but it seems important!

Originally Posted by Zarhym
(Blue Tracker)

Addon authors that use chat messages should check that their addons still work in 4.1

Authors will need to add calls to RegisterAddonMessagePrefix() in order to receive addon messages of a particular prefix, presumably during PLAYER_ENTERING_WORLD for the majority of addons. Note that this system errs on the side of sending too much; it is possible for addon messages to make it to the CHAT_MSG_ADDON handlers when no addon has registered it.

RegisterAddonMessagePrefix( <string> )

Returns a boolean if successful (could fail if it hits the client side limit of 512 prefixes).

IsAddonMessagePrefixRegistered( <string> )

Returns a Boolean if the prefix has been registered.

<table> GetRegisteredAddonMessagePrefixes( <table> )

Returns a table (or you can pass in a table), that will be filled in with all prefixes that were registered.

Prefixes are limited to 16 characters now, and they no longer take up a portion of the 256 character chat message limit. The server has a 64 prefix limit. If you exceed this limit your client will not filter any messages.

Also: SendAddonMessage() is now allowed for the OFFICER channel.

Blue Posts

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment

Winged Raids and Firelands
A developer working on a particularly awesome Firelands boss encounter today took me on a tour of the dungeon. I think you'll find the layout to be a pleasant change of pace from winged dungeons. Many of the mechanics being worked on that I was shown were quite nifty as well. I'm really excited for this one. (Source)

Quest Phasing
This is the sort of philosophy we're going for with phasing, as we do feel it's an important tool for storytelling. We do recognize issues where we've "over-phased" zones in the past though, and we generally tried to take a more minimal approach to phasing in Cataclysm. While there is still a good deal of phasing involved in many of the zones, we tried to make each phase a little more intricate and less intrusive on group gameplay. We want to make sure that, in times when a group is required, phasing doesn't hold you back from grouping with friends. (Source)

Phased Ore/Herbs
It is an issue we're aware of and having been looking into. We've applied a number of hotfixes to phased gathering nodes since the release of Cataclysm, but this one is still there and is certainly a bugger. (Source)

Appearance Tab - Using other items visuals while keeping your real gear
We have discussed these types of ideas with the developers several times in recent history. We're not entirely opposed to some of the ideas, though the feature would probably be more limited than the functionality many players are asking for.

This is still largely a contested concept though, as we'd want to make sure it's done well and doesn't have unforeseen negative impacts on gameplay/art style. When we have more information to share with you regarding our decision whether or not to move forward, and how, we'll be sure to let you know. (Source)

If that's the case, then chalk 4.1 up as an epic failure, and people give blizzard far-far too much credit, and look what it's getting us in return.

Intresting fact.....

4.1 will be coming about 5 months after the launch of Cataclysm expansion - the content... is 2 rewamped raid dungeons into 5 man content.

2.1 patch in TBC came 5 months after the orginal launch of the expansion. It had an entire new raiding content even tho That expansion launched with great 10 man and 25 man ORGINAL raiding content.

Now Blizzard is telling us they are sending content out on more frequent basis in smaller doases. Thats just lies. They are trying to fool ppl. Heroic versions of raid content is NOT new content. They are doing about HALF of the conent they did in TBC claiming they are doing more...

i hope they never implement the Appearance Tab.
In fact, i would most likely quit when it happens, might not be a big deal, but i cba running around in a town or in a raid/dungeon with people in a tuxedo or some other random costumes like Aion or other rubbish MMOs.

The art of blizzard is great, sure, some gear looks bad, but implementing this is not a good idea, and it would just take away the effort of the Art team.

Appreance tab should be like what they have in Rift. You can buy dyes for your armor and with each piece of armor (helm, chest, shoulders, legs and boots) you have a primary and secondary colour. So you can mix and match those colours to make it look alot different.

Okay I didn't read every last comment about the appearance tab, so sorry if this was pointed out.

The main reason I personally would like an appearance tab is simply because Blizzard's gear designers forget alot of things. For example, if I'm remembering right, there is no heroic level plate dps belt to match the warrior tier set. Or how none of the agility leather belts match druid sets. Or how most prot paladins are mixed in thirds, DK-, warrior-, and pally-style and NONE of the plate tanking boots match up with their tier set (or belt for tanking, or boots for ret.... you get the point.)

Bottom line, Blizzard forgot to design gear properly, period. And an appearance tab would cover their lazy asses. So even if they restricted it to dyes, I think I should be allowed to change the skin at least to some other design of that current tier. And before you even point out the pvp implications of this, again, it could be turned off for arena's and rated BGs or whatever, and who gives a damn about ganking besides fools anyways. Protip: you are higher level, you are going to win, if griefing someone over the internet gives you a rubbery one, you need to grow up.

---------- Post added 2011-03-13 at 01:42 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Duster505

Intresting fact.....

4.1 will be coming about 5 months after the launch of Cataclysm expansion - the content... is 2 rewamped raid dungeons into 5 man content.

2.1 patch in TBC came 5 months after the orginal launch of the expansion. It had an entire new raiding content even tho That expansion launched with great 10 man and 25 man ORGINAL raiding content.

Now Blizzard is telling us they are sending content out on more frequent basis in smaller doases. Thats just lies. They are trying to fool ppl. Heroic versions of raid content is NOT new content. They are doing about HALF of the conent they did in TBC claiming they are doing more...

Sounds like you should've quit back then, instead of playing through Wrath since this game's been bad since TBC...

i hope they never implement the Appearance Tab.
In fact, i would most likely quit when it happens, might not be a big deal, but i cba running around in a town or in a raid/dungeon with people in a tuxedo or some other random costumes like Aion or other rubbish MMOs.

The art of blizzard is great, sure, some gear looks bad, but implementing this is not a good idea, and it would just take away the effort of the Art team.

Is that a threat? Because I doubt anyone cares if you quit.....

And maybe before you start ranting you need to learn 2 read before you open your mouth, the appearance tab threads always stated real armor has to be put into the tabs, plate wearers have to wear plate of a certain level for example.

And the effort of the art team went out the window a long time ago otherwise people wouldn't be so eager for an appearance tab. And since there are no dungeon sets anymore non raiders are forced to wear ugly non matching shit and a lot of people hate that.

Intresting fact.....

4.1 will be coming about 5 months after the launch of Cataclysm expansion - the content... is 2 rewamped raid dungeons into 5 man content.

2.1 patch in TBC came 5 months after the orginal launch of the expansion. It had an entire new raiding content even tho That expansion launched with great 10 man and 25 man ORGINAL raiding content.

Now Blizzard is telling us they are sending content out on more frequent basis in smaller doases. Thats just lies. They are trying to fool ppl. Heroic versions of raid content is NOT new content. They are doing about HALF of the conent they did in TBC claiming they are doing more... "

TotalBiscuit compared the .1 patches of vanilla and expansions and rest assured at this point it will be the worst and lamest .1 patch in history of WoW.

"We have discussed these types of ideas with the developers several times in recent history. We're not entirely opposed to some of the ideas, though the feature would probably be more limited than the functionality many players are asking for.

This is still largely a contested concept though, as we'd want to make sure it's done well and doesn't have unforeseen negative impacts on gameplay/art style. When we have more information to share with you regarding our decision whether or not to move forward, and how, we'll be sure to let you know."

Translation: "Sorry, even though it makes sense and would be cool to see the good 'ol Judgement on Paladins here and there, we're simply too lazy to bother putting in anything relating to quality of life. Now, if you excuse us, we need to get back to the dartboard to see which dungeon we're going to recycle for 4.2 and 4.3 heroic five mans!"

The best thing Blizzard could do now is to change the naming of patch from 4.1 to, say, 4.0.9. That way it would NOT be major content patch, but still patch.

It doesn't change the fact tho that we are getting closer to 5 months into the content and next patch is not really a content patch... THey are simply not sending out content (even tho its less) MORE freqently. Its WAYYY to slow.

The progression of the overall feel of WOW atm is so screwed. PPl should not have to do Heroic content in launch raids for 3-5 more months. And heroic dungeons are NOT NEW CONTENT compared to the normal one. Its the same crap with few things changed.

THe progression should be that when MOST guilds that want to do normal raiding are done with it... then its time for new raiding content. The 5 man dungeons are NOT for those ppl. And thats why alot of guilds are loosing ppl every single day cause ppl are just gonna unsub for next 3-4 months till next raiding content comes out. Even my guild has done all normal bosses raiding 2-3 days per week and most dont log on anymore.. ANd we are ranked like 40 on our serve so IMAGINE how bored ppl are gonna be in 4 months from now.

There is a very loud majority of ppl that have played ALOT of WOW that see through what BLizzard is doing.

I have to agree with TB when he says " They are not giving us what we were promised in patch 4.1" THis is not just little disturbing to me. Its a point that need to be hammered into the mind of BLizzard that progression is very flawed in the game atm... and that keeping Firelands from ppl for 2-4 months simple can NOT be justified at this point.

If ppl REALLY want to be called hardcore raiders they should be done with heroic content by now. If they are not... then BLizzard has overtuned it to the point where normal more casual raiders ARE suffering. Cause most of them dont care about Heroics... And if they are still stuck in Normal .. then its another very obvious sign that BLIzzard got it wrong.

I think thats what we are seeing right now. Blizzard just got it wrong. Less and less ppl are loging in atm to even do normal raids. The rewards are not there if ppl havnt done it already. THey will NOT do it before patch 4.2 cause the guild will not have the number of players TO do it. Even the hardcore guilds on my server are loosing ppl every single day to unsub cause they really dont see the point of doing the heroics. And who can dissagre with them ?